Canada needs to sell itself to foreign IT workers

Misconceptions and inaccurate information amongst immigrant workers and Canadian HR professionals are contributing to the brain drain, according to a new study.

The small survey of Asian workers in Canada’s high-tech sector highlights many of the challenges facing Canadian companies that would like to use foreign workers to fill skills gaps.

Of the 47 Asian workers interviewed, 29 said they were thinking about moving to the United States, citing better compensation, lower taxes and access to more opportunities as primary motivations. The findings reaffirm much of the conventional wisdom about IT workers and their attitudes on working in Canada.